Chapter 19 - The Botanical Gala
In Portland, Elise had found her rhythm. She was thriving in her career. She was surrounded by good friends, she had a small rescue dog named Barnaby, and the nightmares of her wedding night had finally faded into distant memories.
Her boss called her into the office on a Tuesday morning.
"Elise, we've just been hired to provide the floral arrangements for a massive charity gala up in Seattle next month," her boss said, handing her a file. "It's a high-profile gig. The foundation is called 'Maya's House.' They specifically requested our firm. I need you to lead the design team."
Elise froze, staring at the logo on the folder.
She knew exactly who ran that foundation. She hadn't spoken to Martha or Arthur in over two years, though they occasionally sent her a Christmas card. A part of her wanted to decline the job, to protect the fragile peace she had built.
But another part of her—the part that had healed and grown strong—knew she had nothing to fear anymore.
May you like
"I'll do it," Elise said softly.
For the next four weeks, Elise poured her heart into the designs. She chose white lilies, soft blue hydrangeas, and sweet jasmine—a subtle nod to the night she had lost everything, reclaiming the flowers to mean something beautiful once more.
